Glass-rolling apparatus



Feb. 19, 1929.

J. H. FOX

GLASS ROLLING APPARATUS Filid Jgn. 171-1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l W 12 V5 w Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,504

(:1 Jan. 17, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,504

J. H. Fox

GLASS ROLLI NG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1?, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4?.9

Patented 19, 1929.

lLlNlTEE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. FOX, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO FITTSBURGI-I PLATE GLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GLASS-ROLLING APPARATUS.

Application filed January 17, 1928.

The invention relates to apparatus for forming glass sheets by a rolling operation, such as that disclosed in the Showers Patent No. 1,57 9,666, and more particularly to the apron for receiving the glass sheet from the larger of the two rolls. The apron, as heretofore used, consisted of a metal shell having a tapering lip fitting against the surface of the roll at its end and either air or water cooled. In the use of this apron, particularly in the formation of a wide sheet, it was found practically impossible to prevent the apron from bowing up at its center after a period of use, due to the high temperature developed, so that the end or lip of the apron at its center would pull away from the surface of the roll an inch or more, and thus provide an obstruction against the oncoming end of the next sheet of glass over which such edge had to be lifted by the use of hand tools. The present invention is designed to provide an apron constructed to overcome this diiiiculty, this result being accomplished in part by minimizing the tendency to bow, and in part by providing means whereby force may be applied, tending to resist the tendency of the apron to bow and to force its lip against the surface of the roll. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying 30 drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view with the upper sizing roll removed. Fig. 2 is a section on the line TIH of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views of the apron, Fig. 3 being a plan view and Fig. 4 being an end elevation. partially in section. Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 3.

- Referring to the drawings, 1 is the lower sizing roll supported upon the rollers 2 and 3, one of which is driven; 4 is the upper sizing roll behind which the body of glass 5 is cast and then formed into the sheet 6 between the rolls; 7 is a suitable framework in front of the roll 1 for supporting the forward end of the runway; S is the apron of the runway to which the invention particularly relates; 9 are the rollers constituting a part of the runway to the rear of the apron; and 10 and 11 are a pair oftransverse water cooled beams for supporting the apron and runway.

The apron comprises the series of pipes or tubes 13, 14, 15 and 16 surrounded by the sections 17. 17, 17 etc. of sheet metal, the tube 13 triangular in cross section, while the other tubes 14., 15 and 16 are rectangular in Serial No. 247,306.

cross section. These tubes or pipes are preferably made of sheet metal, so that they have a certain degree of flexibility for the purpose, as later explained. They are connected at their ends to the water pipes 18 and 19 (Fig. 1), so that they may be cooled by a circulation of water therethrough, the pipes being provided at their ends with valves 20 for regulating the flow.

The sections 17 of sheet metal which surround the pipes are preferably about 12 inches long and are placed end to end, as indicated in Fig. 1, with a slight amount of clearance between the adjacent ends of the sections. Theapron is supported bya plurality of levers 21, 21, 21, etc., arranged in series along the length of the apron and secured thereto by means of the bolts 22, as indicated in Figs. 3 to 5. The sections 17 are clamped to the tubes 13, 14, 15 and 16 by means of the bolts 23, preferably located midway between the ends of the levers 21. The levers are fulcrumed upon the transverse water cooled beam 10, this being accomplished by means of bolts 24 which extend through the levers and through suitable brackets 25 (Fig. 4) bolted to the top of the beam 10. The rear end of each of the levers 21 may be adjusted up and down by means of a bolt 26 pivoted at its upper end to a bracket 27 carried upon the lower side of the beam 11. This is accomplished by having the rear end of each lever forked (Fig. 1) so as to fit around a sleeve 28 mounted upon the bolt 26, to which it is pivoted by means of the bolt 29. The sleeve is adjustable up and down by the nuts 30 and 31 threaded onto the bolt 26 on oppo site sides of the sleeve.

The frame 7, which carries the beams 10 and 11 is pivotally supported at 33 (Fig. 2) upon the under-framing 34 of the machine, while the front end is adjustable vertically by means of an eccentric 35. This permits the angle of inclination of the runway to be adjusted to meetvarying conditions. The frame 7 may be clamped down against the under-framing 34 by any suitable means, the means preferably employed being hooks 36 which are operated by eccentrics 37.

The apron, constructed as illustrated and above described, is relatively fle. :ible and the use of the levers 21 permits the necessary force to be applied to keep the lip 32 (Fig. 5) in close contact with the surface of the roll 1 or closely adjacent thereto throughout its length. The malt' f orm of the sections it tne apron as a whole 0: the casing in the 'cduces the tendency Il a the roll may be reafily counteracted by the 'nde endent adjustment of the l vers 21, so ,IL

at additional stress is applied to tnose poithe reatest ti us of the apron which ha-i b tendency to warp and thus pull away from titre surface of the roll 1. The fl bility of the pipes or tubes 13, and 1e lso contribute to this result, as their tendency to warp less than that o ibes with heavier walls and the force requi ed by the levers ill in counteracting this ten less than is the case with heavier tubes By the use of this device, it has been found possible to keep the lip 32 of the apron close to tie surface of the roll 1 through a long; period of operation, so that the oncoi edges of the successive glass sheets will not catch upon such lip.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In combination with a glass sizing roll, an apron for receiving the gl therefrom, comprising a tubular me iber adjacent the surface of the roll, meals for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough, a plurality of sheet metal sections, placed end to end, surroundi g, said member and having tapering lips in opposition to said surface of the roll, and means for supporting; said sections,

2. In combination with a glass sizing roll, an apron for receiving the glass therefrom, comprising a plurality of pipes, placed side by side adjacent the surface of the roll, means for circulating a cooling fluid theretl'u'oiugh, a plurality of sheet metal sections, placed end to end, surrounding said pipes, and having tapering lips in opposition to said surface of the roll, and means for supporting said sections.

3. In combination with a glass sizing roll, an apron for receiving the glass therefrom, comprising a plurality of pi of angular cross section, placed side by side adjacent the surface of the roll, means for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough, a plurality of sheet metal sections, placed end to end, surrounding said pipes, and having tapering liy in opposition to said surface of the roll, and means for supporting said sect-ions.

In combination with a glass sizing roll, an apron for receiving the glass therefrom, comprising a plurality of pipes of rectangu-- lar cross section, placed side by side, a pipe of triangular cross section extend' along, the side of one of said pipes next to die surface of the roll means for circulating cooling; fluid through said pipes, a pluraliy of sheet metal sections, placed. end to end, around said. pipes, and means for supporting said sections.

5. In combination with glass siri an apron for receiving the glass h comprising a tubular member a surface of the roll, means for cooling fluid therethrough, a Pill ty sheet metal sections, placed end to end, sur rounding said member and having taperfag lips in opposition to said surface of the roll, and means for applying force at different points along the series of sections so as to resist the tendency of the sections to warp and pull said lips away from the surface of the roll.

6. In combination with a glass sizing roll, an apron for receiving the glass therefrom, comprising a tubular member adjacent the surface of the roll, means for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough, a plurality of sheet metal sections, placed end to end, surrounding said member and having tapering lips in opposition to said surface of the roll, a series of levers secured at their ends to said sections and supporting them, and means for adjusting the levers independently so that the sections may be held in substantial alinement against their tendency to warp and pull heir lips away from the surface of the roll.

7. In combination with a glass sizing roll, a hollow metal apron of flexible construction at the side of the roll having a tapering lip in opposition to the surface of the roll, means for causing a flow of cooling fluid through the apron, and means for applying force at different points independently along the length of the apron to resist the tendency of the apron to warp and pull its lip away from the surface of the roll,

8. In combination with a glass sizing roll, a hollow metal apron of flexible construction at the side of the roll having a tapering lip in opposition to the surface of the roll, means for causing a flow of cooling fluid through the apron, a series of lovers having their fulcrums fixed against movement and their ends secured to the apron at differentpoints along its length, and means for applyii 3* force to the other ends of the levers independently to adjust them, so that the tendency of the apron to warp or how may be resisted,

In testimony whereof, have hereunto subscribed my name this '?th day of January,

JOl-Ilil ll. FOX,

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